Anticancer Effect of Sargassum oligocystom Hydroalcoholic Extract Against SW742, HT-29, WiDr, and CT-26 Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines and Expression of P53 and APC Genes.

PURPOSE: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the world, with enhancing morbidity and mortality each year. Due to the drug resistance against CRC, the use of novel compounds besides chemotherapy is required. Natural seafood contains large amounts of biologically active substances with new chemical structures and new medicinal activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Sargassum oligocystom algae on SW742, HT-29, WiDr, and CT-26 CRC cell lines, and to evaluate the expression of P53 and APC genes using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). METHODS: The cytotoxicity of S. oligocystom hydroalcoholic extract was determined by MTT and trypan blue methods in six different concentrations including 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg/mL on various CRC cell lines and a control group. The expression of P53 and APC genes in exposure to 2 mg/mL of the extract was also evaluated using RT-qPCR. RESULTS: The LD50 and LD90 of S. oligocystom included 0.5-1 and > 2 mg/mL, respectively mostly affecting SW742 and CT-26 cells. In the trypan blue test, 90% viability and death of cells were observed at 0.1 and 4 mg/mL of extract, respectively. The 2 mg/mL was a safe cytotoxic concentration. A significant viability decrease was observed at concentrations ≥ 1 mg/mL (p < 0.001). Sargassum oligocystom extract at 2 mg/mL significantly increased the expression of APC ranging 1.98-2.2-fold (p < 0.001) but not P53 gene which ranged 0.5-0.68-fold (p = 0.323) after 24 h. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that the brown algae S. oligocystom extract had significant antitumor effects against the SW742, HT-29, WiDr, and CT-26 CRC cell lines and especially CT-26, suggesting that it may be a potential candidate for further studies and therefore designing drugs of natural anticancer origin. The S. oligocystom had an anticancer effect via an increase in the APC gene expression.

Assessment of oncogenic role of intestinal microbiota in colorectal cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION: The direct association between some microbial species and cancers, such as in colorectal cancer (CRC), has been disclosed. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in intestinal microbiota in subjects with CRC compared with healthy group. METHODS: Three-hundred fecal specimens were gathered from patients with CRC and 300 from healthy individuals during March 2014 to October 2019 from two hospitals in Tehran. The informed consent form and the questionnaire were completed by the patients. Following the identification of Lactobaccilus acidophilus (L. acidophilus), Lactobacillus palntarom (L. palntarom), and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), the number of bacteria was determined using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). RESULTS: The patients' age range was 20-76 years (mean: 55.34 ± 3.66). The qPCR clarified that number of E. faecalis was 2.2-fold higher in patients with CRC compared to healthy population (p = 0.0013). Additionally, the number of L. acidophilus and L. plantarom was 3.4-fold (p < 0.0001) and 4.8-fold (p < 0.0001) higher in healthy population. CONCLUSION: The inhibitory effect of intestinal microflora against the CRC development was proposed by observation of the changes in intestinal microbiota and determining their composition in subjects with CRC compared with that of healthy individuals. Microbiota was considered as a goal for the prevention and treatment of CRC. The relationship between microbiota and human health would be known deeper; this knowledge provides insights into the management of intestinal microbiota and therapeutics.

Anticancer Effects of Herbal Medicine Compounds and Novel Formulations: a Literature Review.

INTRODUCTION: Many agents disrupt the cell cycle and its signaling circuits leading to cancer progress. Cancer therapy is performed by surgery, radiation, and chemical drugs remaining some side effects. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anticancer traits of herbal medicines. METHODS: We collected previously published data in searching engines (Web of Science, PubMed, Medline, and SCOPUS) by searching key words "herbal medicine," "anticancer effect," "compounds," and "fractions." RESULTS: Herbal medicines have unraveled anticancer effects mostly through cancer cells apoptosis via blocking NF-κB pathway by curcumin and terpenoides; CD95 signaling and enhancement of CD95L expression by resveratrol; and inhibiting tyrosine kinas, angiogenesis, and cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase by ß-lapachone-genistein and cytochrome-c release into the cytosol and caspase-9 activation by biocalein and quercetin. Additionally, impeding cell cycle in the G1 phase in ovarian cancer cells by 7-hydroxystaurosporine, immune cells enrichment (neutrophils and NK cells activation by Viscum album L., T cells and NK cells activation and cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor release by Ganoderma lucidum and microRNAs regulation (by Sinomeniumacutum, shikonin, Oleaeuropaea, curcumin and ginseng). These effects have implications for proper cancer cells elimination. It has been revealed that cytotoxic effects of herbal compounds (mostly those secondary metabolites) have exerted anticancer properties against several cancer cell lines. In addition, targeting microRNAs, nanoparticle-assisted herbal synergism, and novel drug delivery systems and combination chemotherapies have also emerged exerting higher efficacies for specific cell targeting as novel cancer therapy approaches. CONCLUSION: Considering side effects, toxicity, and higher costs of common cancer therapy approaches, application of novel herbal medicine-based therapies will confer promising insights for health outcomes.

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities of Foeniculum vulgare Mill Essential Oils.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Foeniculum vulgare (F. vulgare) Mill, commonly known as fennel, belongs to the Umbelliferae (Apiaceae) family, biennial or perennial herbs disseminated in Mediterranean region and central Europe. This herbal medicine (HM) is considered as a traditional HM, and its parts have been studied. METHODS: In this survey, essential oils from seeds collected from three various regions (Kerman, Golestan, and East Azerbaijan Provinces) of Iran were prepared with hydro-distillation and their components were analyzed with gas chromatography (GC) and chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of the essential oils were examined with disk-diffusion method on Muller-Hinton agar and Subaru-dextrose Agar, respectively. Additionally, the MTT assay was assessed on breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). The expression of apoptosis-related genes, Bax and Bcl2, was determined using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). RESULTS: The major fractions of essential oils identified by GC and GC/MS included trans-anethole (78.47%, 49.64%, 78.68%), fenchone (10.5%, 8.4%, and 10.2%), and limonene (5.9%, 6.70%, and 5.6%), respectively. Fennel oil collected from three various places exerted inhibitory effects on the bacterial growth and higher cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 cancer cell line. In addition, the essential oil increased the expression of Bax, but decreased Bcl2 gene expression significantly (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: According to our findings, F. vulgare essential oil can be considered as a promising agent opening venues for novel antimicrobial and anticancer therapies. Owing to side effects and expensiveness of chemotherapy approaches, HM is a new remarkable insight for future therapies.

The Anticancer Efficiency of Citrullus colocynthis Toward the Colorectal Cancer Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major cause of death worldwide. Chemotherapy is associated with some side effects during CRC treatment. Hence, proper employment of lower toxic and approaches exerting lowest side effects are essential. The Citrullus colocynthis (C. colocynthis) seems a potential anticancerous herbal medicine (HM) against CRC mostly via various efficient compounds. METHODS: We performed a literature review regarding the anticancer traits of C. colocynthis against CRC. The possible active compounds, mechanisms, and combination therapies in vitro and in vivo or clinical trials have been also stated where found. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The anticancerous effects of C. colocynthis has been via a variety of pathways including apoptotic pathways (increase in caspase-3 and inhibiting STAT3 function), antioxidant and anti-inflammatory (TNF-α, nitric oxide, and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1α) traits, inhibition of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, and antiangiogenesis and antimetastatic effects. Future studies will be promising regarding proper application of C. colocynthis compounds following their extraction.